The churches in rural St. Landry Parish -- about 30 miles north of Lafayette -- have burned since March 26 in what officials have described as "suspicious circumstances." In one parish, three churches burn in 10 daysFirefighter battles blaze at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on Thursday. "The three fires in St. Landry Parish contain suspicious elements, but we have not yet classified them," said Ashley Rodrigue, a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal. Law enforcement presence increases at houses of worshipBrowning said the remains of the three historically black churches in St. Landry Parish are considered crime scenes. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said authorities were "doing everything we can" to protect churches and determine the cause of the fires.

Source: CNN April 06, 2019 18:14 UTC